Chinese herbal formulas for dispersing the liver and relieving depression (treating depression by unblocking the liver’s qi) include Chai Hu Shuo Liver Essence and Loosening the Liver Essence, etc. Chinese herbal formulas for strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness (enabling dampness to be discharged by replenishing the spleen) include Ginseng Ling Bai Zhu San.
1. Chai Hu Shuo Liver Essence is composed of Chen Pi, Chai Hu, Chuan Xiong, Xiang Fu, Citrus aurantium, Paeonia lactiflora and Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae, etc. It has the effect of dispersing the liver and relieving stagnation of the liver and regulating the qi and relaxing the middle of the body. It is generally used in treating pain in the coarseness and ribs, depression, belching (hiccup) and abdominal distension caused by liver depression and stagnation of qi (poor transportation of qi and blood in the liver and depression of emotions and moods).
2. Prosperity powder is composed of roasted licorice, angelica, peony, poria, fried atractylodes, chaihu and other traditional Chinese medicines. It has the effects of harmonizing the liver and spleen, clearing heat and cooling blood (relieving blood heat by clearing heat). It is mainly used in treating liver-qi stagnation (poor transportation of qi and blood in the liver, emotional depression), which results in fire over a long period of time, with clinical manifestations such as impatience and irritability, and fullness and pain in the chest and ribs (chest and ribs area collectively).
3. Ginseng & Atractylodes Macrocephalae is composed of Atractylodes Macrocephalae, Poria, Licorice, Platycodonopsis, Chinese yam, Coix lacryma and other traditional Chinese medicines, which has the functions of strengthening the spleen, harmonizing the stomach and restoring the functions of the spleen and stomach, and eliminating dampness and stopping diarrhea (removing dampness to treat diarrhea). It can be used to treat lethargy (tiredness and fatigue), loss of appetite, loose stools, and yellowish complexion (yellowish and lusterless complexion) caused by spleen deficiency and dampness.
If taking Chinese herbal soup, it must be taken in strict accordance with the doctor’s prescription after diagnosis by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and the doctor should be consulted in time if there is any discomfort.